Bman's Blues Report

  I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, The Montreux Years , from Nina Simone and it's really a great representation of her live performances. This compilation covers all of her 5 Montreux performances. Disc one a composite of cuts from various years and disc two her 1968 performance in full. Opening with a demonstration of her classical training on piano on Someone to Watch Over Me , Simone really gets the keys rolling showig real keyboard prowess and power. On shuffle track, I Wish I Knew How It Would Feel To Be Free , Simone lays down a simple piano line and sings with her casual but succinct style with heavy piano accent. Very cool. See-Line Woman with backing vocal has it's southern blues roots and chant like nature. Very much like primitive field hollars, it relates to prostitutes lining up to perform "favors" as the sailors come to shore. Don't Smoke In Bed is a fairly classic Simone track with it's dramatic classical/jazz pia...

  I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release (June 25, 2021), A Sweet Relief Tribute to Joey Spampinato , NRBQ founding member and writer of all of the tracks on thie release. Opening with blues rocker, You Can't Hide , by Al Anderson on lead vocal and guitar, with Carl Minor on acoustic guitar, David Dorn on keys, Steve Mackey on bass, and Evan Hutchings on drums. Energetic opener. Los Lobos contributes Every Boy and Girl , with David Hildago on guitar, accordion and vocal, Steve Berlin on sax, Vince Hidalgo on bass and David Hildago Jr on drums. Pop tune, How Can I Make You Love Me , is performed by She and Him with Zooey Deschanel on vocal and M. Ward on guitar and keys. The Minus 5 brings us Don't She Look Good in a slightly punky rockabilly style. Scott McCaughey on guitar, piano, organ, percussion and vocal with Mike Mills on bass, Peter Buck on guitar, and Joe Adragna on drums and with a really cool guitar solo by Dave Depper. I really like Buddy Mi...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, The Cause Of It All , from The Reverend Shawn Amos and I think it's his best yet! Opening with Willie Dixon's Spoonful , Amos cuts it back to the bare necessities and I love his style. paired with guitarist, Chris "Doctor" Roberts, this is electrifying. Amos' vocals seem to scream out of the dark as do his harmonica riffs and the Doctor's fat toned guitar work is over the top. Excellent opener! Muddy Waters' Still A Fool is another excellent tract with the mostly clear (not distorted intentionally) vocals by Amos and warm throaty tones of the Doctor's guitar really carrying the word. Chester Burnett's Color And Kind leans more to super soulful vocals and warm, rich harmonica work by Amos. Powerful. A quiet rendition of Little Walter's, Can't Hold Out Much Longer, really works Amos on vocal and harmonica with no distortion and the Doctor on clean acoustic guitar. Very nice. W...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Nowhere To Go But Up , from Smiling Jack Smith & The New Panama Limited and it's an interesting blues rock set. Opening with Another Year Gone , a blues based rocker, Smiling Jack Smith leads the way on guitar and vocal, backed by David Herrington on tuba and Quique Villafane on drums. David Gwynn holds down the lead guitar role with some really nice riffs includig a few pinched harmonics and phrasing that would make Roy Buchanan proud. On easy folk blues, Been Worryin' it's the tuba backing by Herrington that really gets my attention under some of the best vocals on the release by Smith. Very nice. Uptempo rocker, Don't Pray Me No Prayers When I'm Gone , is a super to tapper with a country style flavor. Underlying tuba work by Herrington hits the mark. Randon Walk Start All Over Again is a cool, nearly spoken word track with a solid bass line (on tuba) and nicely phrased guitar lead by Gwynn. Laid ...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Where and When , from Kelly's Lot and it's a solid blend of blues and country. Opening with Stronger , a basic acoustic blues number featuring Kelly Zirbes on lead vocal, Perry Robertson on rhythm guitar, Doug Pettibone on lead guitar and David Grover on bass. Zirbes has a solid voice with just a slight grit and Pettibone's tight guitar riffs over the rhythm of Grover and Robertson makes for a cool opener. Reworking Howlin Wolf's, Somebody In My Home , kelly gets the feel of Wolf's performance without his thickness and gruff and Pettibone's slide work very nice. Uptempo, Howlin' Wolf's Nature , has a real nice guitar line and Kelly's vocals are the best on the release. Robert Johnson's Stones In My Passway is my choice track on the release with a nice balance between Kelly's lead vocal, the rhythm work of Grover and Robertson and the solid slide work of Pettibone. The dual acous...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release (July 9, 2021), Blues Without Borders , from Debbie Bond and considering our times and the proximities of remote players, quite remarkable. Thanks to cyber space, this album was completed in five separate studios and in the US and UK. Opening with High Rider Blues , Debbie Bond on vocal and guitar works with Rick Asherson on harmonica and  Micky Barker on drums for a cool opener. Let Me Be is my choice for radio track on the release with a straightforward melody, Bond on vocal and and some bluesy lead guitar, Asherson on keys and Barker on drums. The best vocal showcase on the release is Blue Rain with it's solid blues bottom and traditional blues riffs. Radiator , a soulful rocker features a cool sax solo by Brad Guin. Another strong soulful rocker is Let Freedom Ring with it's heartfelt lyrics and firm melody and tight keyboard backing by Asherton. Wrapping the release is country flavored rocker, Road Song wi...

  I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release (June 18, 2021), The Last Shall Be First: The JCR Records Story, Vol. 2 and it's a great followup to last years release. Opening with Little Wooden Church , by The Silver Trumpets set a cool R&B pace with solid harmonies and cool guitar. The Calvary Nightengales with My Robe is one of my favorites with really rich lead lead vocal, solid backing vocals and cool electric guitar accompaniment. High energy, Stand By Me , by The Dixie Wondeers, jumps off of the record with super vocals and enthusiasm. Very cool. Another great track is Until My Days Are Gone by The Masonic Travelers with not only super vocals throughout but contagious energy. Excellent! Soulful, When I'm Gone , by The Dixie Harmonizers has great depth and richness. I like the basic approach of I'm A Changed Man , by The Dixiland Singers. With it's traditional call and response and solid singing, perfect. The Spiritual Harmonizers pump it up...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release (June 11, 2021), Memphis Moonlight, by Deb Ryder and it's a cool, R&B based blues release packed with talent. Opening with I'm Coming Home , a sassy R&B track features Ryder on lead vocal with Tony Braunagel on drums, Johnny Lee Schell on guitar, Mike Finnigan on B3, Travis carlton on bass, Mark Pender on trumpet and some super sax riffs from Joe Sublet. Cool opener. With a bluesier feel and a touch of gospel on These Hands, Ryder really hits the groove vocally and Alastair Green's addition on slide is a super perk. Schell's backing vocals and the addition of Pieter Van Der Pluijm on harmonica adds real texture. Driving rocker, Blues Is All I Got had a solid bass line by Schell andwith Braunagel on drums and van Der Pluijm on harmonica. Classic slow blues, Love Is Gone is a real standout giving Ryder a chance to show the richness of her vocals and featuring the king of blues guitar phrasing, Ronn...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Cargo , from Jarkka Rissanen & Sons of the Desert , and I think it's just the right kind of cool! Opening with Tomcat, a laid back R&B based track with Latin and Blues/Jazz influences, it just cruises like an early WAR record. With Jarkka Rissanen and Markus Vaisanen on guitars, Ilpo Komulainen on bass and Esa karki on drums and percussion, this is a solid opener. Title track, Cargo , is a real nice instrumental ballad featuring Rissanen on lead and baritone guitar melody. Although this track doesn't have the signature guitar riffs nor does it even attempt Jeff Beck's phenominal fretwork, I that Beck would gravitate to this sound. I know that I do. Excellent! Pow-Wow has a modernized Delta sound and a dash of hill country percussion with Rissanen on slide guitar and Vaisanen soloing on electric guitar over a firm bass line by Komulainen and sweet tom tom work by Karki. Very cool. Roll Call is another ...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Betting on a Gambling Man , from Dwane Dixon and it's a cool blues rocker. Opening with rockabilly style title track, Betting on a Gambling Man , Dwane Dixon plays every note on the release with super vocals, solid guitar lead, bass and drums. On A World Of Hurt , Dixon's guitar tone is fat and meaty with cool Frank Marino like phrasing, broad stereophonic wizardry and a tight bottom. laying back in the pocket a bit on I Buried Your Bones , Dixon crafts a cool western style ballad on what may be my favorite track on the release. With it's solid melody, nicely blended vocals and a cool harmonica solo, it's likely the top radio selection on the release. Cool shuffle, Whiskey You Don't Lie , has a strong bass line and power vocals. A swinging country rocker, this track really moves. Wrapping the release is instrumental. The Awakening , with it's heavy bottom and eastern flavor. Dixon uses this "St...

  I just had the opportunity to review the newest release Plug In & Play, from Tommy Z and I really like it. Opening with Pumpin' (Let's Have Some Fun) , a full bodied texas blues shuffle, Tommy lets the riffs roll off of his fingers like molasses.  His riffs are sweet, fat and juicy and his phrasing is solid. With Tom Scime on keys pumping up the fullness, Tommy really lets it fly and  David Hulett on drums and Dave Herr on bass, this is a really solid opener. Slow blues, Please Come Back To Me , is one of my favorites on the release with strong vocals by Tommy and controlled lead work that is really effective at raising the tension, balanced with Scime's organ work. Very nice. Title track, P lug in And Play has Rolling Stones or LS style attack on a driving rocker. Tommy MacDonald's bass playing and Tom Hambridge on drums have this track anchored and Z's vocals work great with his guitar swagger. Scowler has a strong radio melody and solid vocal blending by ...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Joy Machine , from Circus Mind and it's a funky music party. Opening with Are You Ready? , lead vocalist and keyboard player, Mark Reehler sets the pace backed by Chris Crosby on bass, Dave Berg on guitar, Dane roth on drums and Steve Finkelstein on percussion and featuring Brandon "Taz" Niederauer with an outrageous guitar solo. Solid opener.  Air Waves is another track with a funk laden backbeat but leaning more to jazz rock. With strong vocal blending and cool percussion by Finkelstein, this track has cool radio appeal. Longing Song is laid back and adventurous featuring rechler backing himself on keys and with a cool guitar solo by Nels Cline. One of my favorite tracks on the release, JazzFest Time has that New Orleans pumped up street jazz sound featuring Pablo Rodriquez on trombone, Michael Amendola on alto sax, Damien Pacheco on trumpet and Richard Bomzer on bari sax. This track really hums with t...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release (July 16, 2021), Troublemaker , from Clint Morgan and it's a lot of fun. Opening with Hangman Woman a cool country flavored rocker, Clint Morgan is on lead vocal with a casual Johnny Cash like approach. backed by Wendy Moten and the McCrary Sisters on vocal, Doug Lancio and John Del Toro Richardson on guitar, Kevin McKendree on piano, David Santos on bass, and Kenneth Blevins on drums, this is a hot opener. On traditional track, Go Down, Moses, Morgan's lead vocal, complimented nicely by Ann McCrary and Regina McCrary over a nicely orchestrated backing this track is very strong.  On a cover of Johnny Cash's Big River , Morgan nicely blends Cash's style with Ray Charles and the addition of Lancio's baritone guitar work and Jim Hoke on sax really hits the spot. One track that stands out as totally different is spoken word over a blues rocking rhythm, It's Rough Out Here with jamming guitar riffs, Mc...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Between Midnight and Louise , from Chris Gill and it's a cool folk blues release. Opening with Thank You For Another Day , Chris Gill slips right into the pocket with this nicely finger picked country blues instrumental. With thoughts of Honey Boy Edwards and Hubert Sumlin, delta style blues, Song For Honeyboy has great bones with Gill showing his absolute knowledge of delta style guitar playing. Very cool. Another beefy, delta style track is Fleas and Ticks showing really nice acoustic blues guitar riffs and a solid melody/vocal combo.  With a solid grip on a baritone  guitar, Gill really makes his slide talk. Fat tones and slide belong together. Magic. Wrapping the release is title track, Between Midnight and Louise . This track has a more contemporary ballad feel with a quiet melody played through a 31 National Duolian. It's metal body rings nicely throughout the lush melody. Cool closer.  ...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release (May 21, 2021), Bang At The Door, from Donna Herula and it's a cool mix of country, blues and pop. Opening with title track, Bang At the Door, Herula shows a real strength at pop music blending a strong melody backing herself on resonator, and with FJ Ventre on bass and Dana Thalheimer on drums. With a Latin beat, Pass The Biscuits is a cool track with a captivating beat. Herula's vocals and resonator work over the  snappy drum work of  Thalheimer, Doug Hammer on piano, Ventre on bass Tony Pons on trumpet and Rebecca Toon on backing vocals is a solid track. Acoustic ballad, Promise Me features Tony Nardiello on acoustic guitar, Jon Shain on mandolin and Ventre on bass under the solid vocal and resonator of Herula. Black Ice is one of my favorite tracks on the release with Herula playing in a pure country blues finger pick/slide technique backed by Ventre on percussion. Very nice. Bukka White's Fixin' To ...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Let's Get Happy Together , from Maria Muldaur and Tuba Skinny and it's captures the sound of the 20's and 30's. Opening with I Like You Best of All, Muldaur on vocal and Shaye Cohn on wild cornet, Todd Burdick on the anchor ... tuba, Barnabus Jones on super trombone, Jason Lawrence on 6 string banjo, Craig Flory with a great clarinet solo, Greg Sherman on guitar, Max Bien Kahn on guitar and Rubin Rupuzzi on washboard. I really like the clarinet / cornet play off each other. It sets the stage nicely and Jones is a strong trombone player so his work with Muldaur's vocals are classic. Taking the pace down quite a bit on Delta Bound , Flory and Jones again really work the track and Burdick's tuba work is terrific under Muldaur's vocals. I Go For That has great pace and excellent instrumental weaving that is so important in this period music as well as all Dixieland music. Very nice. One of Muldaur...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Not In My Lifetime , from Wee Willie Walker and the Anthony Paule Soul Orchestra and I really like it! Opening with R&B track, Don't Let Me Get In Your Way Wee Willie Walker is strutting up front with the mic, backed by Anthony Paule on guitar, Tony Lufrano on keys, Endre Tarczy on bass, Kevin Hayes on drums, Bill Ortiz on trumpet, Charles Mcneal on tenor sax, Rob Sudduth on bari sax, Derek James on trombone and terrific backing vocals by Larry Batiste, Sandy Griffith and Omega Rae on backing vocals. Shifting into soul, Over and Over is one of my favorite tracks on the release with excellent vocal phrasing and warm vocal  backing. Another sweet soul tune is Darling Mine with great feeling and strong guitar solo phrasing by Paule. With a high strut, Jon Thomas' Heartbreak really kicks in with the horns and organ blazing. Ortiz lays out a really nice trumpet solo giving this track a real kick but of course i...